UAF Chancellor Search
In May of 2025, UAF Chancellor Dan White announced his intent to retire at the end of July 2025. UA President Pat Pitney named Ambassador Mike Sfraga (ret.), Ph.D., as interim UAF chancellor. President Pitney has now announced the search committee which will guide the search for UAF's next permanent Chancellor.
UAF Chancellor Position Profile
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (“UAF”) is inviting applications and nominations
for the position of Chancellor.
Please visit the UA Careers site for the position profile and application details.
Search Timeline:
- Week of September 1, 2025: Recruitment Launch
- October 20, 2025: Committee Begins Rolling Review to Identify Semi-finalists
- November 2025: Virtual Interviews with Semi-finalists
- December 2025: Finalists Recommended to President Pitney
- January 2026: Finalists Visit Campus for In-Person Meetings
- March 2026: Chancellor Announcement
Latest Updates
- September 4, 2025 - UAF Chancellor search update
- July 18, 2025 - (Press Release) UA President Pitney Names Ambassador Sfraga (ret.) as Interim UAF Chancellor
- June 27, 2025 - UAF Chancellor Search Update: Interim Selection Timeline
- June 9, 2025 - Update on UAF Chancellor Search Process & Timeline
- May 30, 2025 - (Press Release) University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor White Announces Retirement at End of July
UAF Chancellor Search Committee
The search committee for UAF’s next permanent chancellor is charged with publicizing the search, vetting potential candidates, and making recommendations on finalists to President Pitney. The committee includes members representing a broad array of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, community campuses, and key community partners. The search committee is co-chaired by UAF Faculty Senate President Dr. Leah Berman and UAF Board of Advisors and UA Foundation Board of Directors member Jason Gootee. In addition to the co-chairs, the committee includes:
- Derek Bastille - UAF Staff Council President and UAF Staff Member
- Jackson Nelson - ASUAF President and UAF Student
- Dr. Jessica Black - UAF Associate Vice Chancellor, Rural Community and Native Education
- Dr. Taryn Lopez - UAF Research Faculty, Geophysical Institute
- Dr. Brock Anundson - Athletics Director, UAF Nanooks
- Dr. Mark Hermann - Associate Dean, College of Business and Security Management
- Haley Hanson - Director, Kuskokwim Campus, UAF Community Campus
- Frank Paskvan - UAF INE Affiliate Professor
- Togi Letuligasenoa - President, ORCS Business Unit, Calista Brice
- Two additional committee members will be added in the coming weeks.
Key Search Committee Responsibilities:
- Communicate broadly throughout the search
- Develop, recommend, and publish a search committee process and timeline
- Identify and recommend desirable attributes for a UAF Chancellor
- Share the position advertisement
- Identify and develop screening criteria
- Solicit a diverse candidate pool
- Inform the candidates about the university and the position
- Evaluate the candidates against the desired attributes
- Narrow the candidate pool to three to five
- Provide information about the candidate pool
- Socialize the finalists with the university community through town hall meetings and other events, and collect feedback.
Support:
- Communications Support: UAF Executive Director for University Advancement Tom Hough, System Office Director of Public Affairs Jonathon Taylor, and other communication team members, including Marmian Grimes, Jenn Baker, and Monique Musick will help the committee communicate broadly to include websites, written updates, town halls, and other engagements.
- UA Interim Chief Human Resources Officer Nickole Conley will assist the committee in an advisory capacity. Other staffing assistance will be determined soon.